In May we held the first meeting of the Faith and Peaceful Relations Forum. Following the success of that meeting we are delighted to be able to announce the second meeting of the Forum and hope that you will be able to join us and invite colleagues and neighbours to come too. At our inaugural meeting we agreed a range of topics that the Forum will explore in coming meetings. On 21st September we will be focusing on the crucial issue of diversity, identity and social cohesion. In light of the recent EU Referendum vote there has been a disturbing rise in the number racial motivated attacks in the UK, making this a vital issue for the Forum to reflect on and respond to. In response to the current situation our Research Fellow, Chris Shannahan, recently wrote a short article entitled ‘We must stop living as strangers after the EU Referendum’ for online publication ‘The Conversation’. If you would like to read it before attending the Forum in September please just click here – https://theconversation.com/we-must-stop-living-as-strangers-after-the-eu-referendum-61697

Details of the Forum meeting are below and we are delighted to say that three excellent speakers have agreed to share their thoughts with us. We very much hope to see you as we continue to build the Faith and Peaceful Relations Forum.

WHAT: ‘Strangers No More: Building Peace in a Diverse Society’

WHEN: Wednesday 21st September from 14.00-16.00

WHERE: Spirituality & Faith Centre, The Hub (Jordan Well)

Our reflections will be led by –

Professor Harris Beider (Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations)

Professor Robert Beckford (Canterbury Christchurch University)

The Forum is free and everybody is welcome. However so that we can gauge numbers for catering please email Charlotte Martin at charlotte.martin@coventry.ac.uk – to book your place.